Measuring device



Sept. 4, 1945. H. J. BALMER MEASURING DEVICE Filed Jan. 31, 1944 Q R sw or McZ a/ Z VENTOR.

maul/L Patented Sept. 4, 1945 mm are 2,384,15llf f 2,384,150 l j MEASURING Devi-E: 7

Harold Balmer, Portland, Micln, assignor of I one-half to Theo Ingersoll, Muskegon, Mich.

mutation-Jana 31, 1944, S erial No. 526,505

4 Claims. (01. 33-125 This invention relates to a measuring device for use in connection with the game of football for accurately measuring and checking to determine if first down has been made as soon as the ball i's'dead.

One of the prime objects of the'invention is to design a measuring device composed of'few parts which is very easy to handle and operate, and which eliminates the possibility of error in checking for first down;

Another object is to provide a simple, practical, and readily manipulatable means which eliminates the old-fashioned conventional chains'used for measuring, speeds up play after punts, which is easy and convenient to handle, and which can be readily manufactured and assembled.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out'in' the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions andminor detals of construction,- without departin from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. a

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevational view proved measuring device;

Fig. 2 is aplan view;

Fig.- 8 is an'enlarged fragmentary view showing the clamping means; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing thedevice in use onafootball field. I

The rules for playing football specify that the team having possession of the ball must advance it at least ten yards in four downs or forfeit possession of the ball to their opponents; and when the opposing line isstrong and the'team decides that it cannot make the necessary yardage, it is general practice, on thefourth down, to kick or punt the ball as far as possible in the direction of the opponents goal line. This gives the opponents possession of the ball, but usually gains the yardage represented by the distance of the punt, less any run back.

The conventional manner of measuring is to provide a ten-yard chain provided with a metal stake at each end, the one stake being placed in the ground at the point where the ball comes to rest or is dead. The chain is then stretched taut in the direction the ball is to be advanced,- and the opposite stake is then pressed into the ground to mark the ten-yard distance. 7

' The head linesman also carries a suitable stake and registers each advance (on each down) by means of this stake; and if the ball is advanced a distance close to the ten yards, the ofiicials must check to accurately determine if a first down has been made, In checking, the men at the ends of my imof the chain and the head linesman measure (with the chain) the'distance from one of the yard stripes to the point which represents the requiredten yards. The head linesman then grasps the chain over one of the yard stripes, then the three men run onto the playingfield to thespot where-the ball rests. The head linesman places the'chain in h s claspedhand on the proper. stripe to determine-if the ball has beenadvanced .the required distance. If this procedure and measuring shows thata' first down has not been made, all three men return to the side lines and find the-original position of the forward point of the chains; 1

method of measuring is .not accurate and is provocative of argument because the starting point is determined by estimating or sighting by the oflicial. This is due to the fact that theball is'always onthe. field of play, usually at a conside'rable distance from the side lines;,whereas the'chaln measuring device is operated along these side lines; consequently, the alignment ofthe end of the chain on the side line with the spot on the fieldat which the ballcomes to-rest, or isfdead," is merelyan estimate or sighting operation by an ofllcial. The chain is also cumbersome'and difllcult to manipulate. Players sometimes-become entangled therein, or aretrippedgthereby; and I have, therefore, perfected an improved measur-, ing device which eliminates this chain and its stakes, and'by means of which the yardage for.

first down can be readily and accurately measured,

Referring now to the drawing, the device .comprises a fiat beam or strip of material 10, provided with a depending cleat l l on the one end thereof, this cleat being preferably formed of thin vflat metal with a rounded lower end so that it readily pierces the earth. A link I2 is pivotally secured: to the upper'face 0f the cleat Hand 9. chain iii, of predetermined-length, is secured to said link, a stake l4 being secured to the opposite end of the 1 chain and for a purpose to be presently described. v

A clamping means C is adjustablymounted on the beam In as shown, and comprises a preferably metallic slide l5 having adownwardly depending cleat l6 (similar to cleat I I formed integral therewith. Spaced apart upwardly projecting flanges I! are also provided on said slide and an eccentric or cam is is mounted thereon, said cam being provided with laterally projecting, off-center, tubular trunnions I9 which are revolvably mounted in openings 20 provided in the flanges I1, and an elongated handle 2| is'mounted in and projects from the face of the cam as shown;

A fiat spring member 22 is pivotally mounted on and between the flanges I! at the point 23, and extends longitudinally alongthe face of the beam beneath the cam, so that as the cam is rotated by swinging the handle downwardly, the face of said cam will engage said spring, pressing it down and into firm contact with the beam ID to securely hold the clamping means in adjusted position.

In practice the device is operated by the head linesman whois assisted by a home team repre:

sentative. The assistant carries the measuring device and stands on a predetermined yard stripe;

stripes, it will be seen that the device fits every for example, if the ball is dead" at a point a short distance ahead of the ten-yard line, the assistant linesman will stand on the twentyo'ard line, ecause in order to make a first down (ten yards), the ball would have to be advanced in four plays to a. point a short distance ahead of the twentyyard line.

Assuming that the ball is kicked, punted, or advanced to a, point five feet ahead oi the tenyard line, the head linesmah Places the filiake in the center of the ten-yard line ripe. H8 then swings the handle 2| upwardly, rotating the cam and relieving the pressure on the spring 22, so that the clamp C can be slidably adjus ed to bring the cleat IS in direct alignment with the front end of the ball, and the handle 2| is then swung down to securely hold the clamp in ad,- justed position. 7 a

The head'linesman now hands the device to his assistant who stands on the twenty-y Str pe and play is resumed; and shouldthere be a y time any question as to whether or not the necessary yardage has been gained, the assistant quickly hands the device to the head lineiiman who places the stake M in the center of the twenty-yard stripe, and the point where the cleat I6 is locatedindicates the point to which the ball must be advanced to make first down. The measurement is in line with the ball so that accuracy is assured. There is no estimatin sight ing, or guess-work necessary. Where the distance to be measured is very short, the beam only is used, the measurement being from the cleat I I to the cleat l6.

All measurements are taken from the yard stripes or lines. The assistant remains a safe distance from play and must be ready to hand the device to the head linesman, so that he can check for first down, and the assistant can observe as the play is stopping .whether or not he should move in to hand the device to the head linesman.

To avoid possible chance of error in checkin for first down, means is provided on the clamp for keeping a record as to whether or not the chain :was used in measuring the distance, or whether it was with the beam only; also. if the direction from the line in question is from the goal line or toward the fifty-yard line: and this is accomplished by providing a small cran 24 which is rotatably mounted on one of the flanges 11 at the point 25. Depressicns 25 are provided on the side wall of the clamp as shown and an extension 21 is provided on the crank handle for registering and seating in the epressions as t crank isactuated, each dep ssion having certain indicia or marks adjacent th reto to more sent the direction. wh ther he measurement was with beam alone or with chain and beam, the crank being so amounted that its free end frictionally engages the side Wall of the flange.

The beam is usually about eight-feet ions and the chain can. be four feet in length, and whenever the distance to be measured is greater than the length of the beam, the chain is also utilized; as the playingfield is divided by five-yard requirement.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that I have perf c ed a v ry mple, practicaL'and conv nien measuring vice for u with th g of football, which insures accuracy of measurement, which relieves the oflicials, makes for safe-' ty of players, which speeds up the game, and is a light in weight and easy to handle.

What I claim is:

1, is measuring stick for use in connection with a game of football, comprising a smooth beam of. predetermined length and havinga depending, earth piercing cleat on one end thereof, a chain anchored to the cleat end of the beam and having a round pier ing s ake at ached. to the tr end oithe chain, a clamp mounted to slide on said beam to measure and designate the spot where the football omesto resta flat sprin having its one end pivotally secured to the clamp with its. free end nsa eable-with. the face o the beam, and a manually actuated am mounted in the clamp and engag able wi h t e spri g tor forcing it into frictional nga ement with said beam to secure said clampin set position said beam.

ames comprising an elong te sm o h beam Y member having a clea on. one d thereof. a flexible chain secured to the-cleat end o the e n provided w th a und p e i g stake on theifree end thereof. a clamp l g t d ally adjustable on said be m for marking he play by play advance of the football during a game, sa clamp avin cleat orm d int gra he e ith, spa ed apart upwar y extending flang s on the ciamn'a fia spr ng having i s one end pivo a ly secured t the f ang s wit ts free, e d r d on the face o t e bea a am ot t lv mo ntd-ori sai ges and a han le on the cam for rotating said cam and forcing it into engagement with the spring tofirmly secure the clamp in its adjusted position. V

3. A measuring device for measuring the play by play advance of the football durin a football game comprising an elongated smooth beam having a cleat on the one nd thereof, a clamp longitudinally a justable on the beam, a chain, approximately four feet in length, secured to the cleat end of the beam and having aground piercing stakeattached to the free end thereof, a ground pi rcin cleat for ed int l .with t e clam a flat spring h vin one end ivotally seured to said clamp, otatable means eugageable with the free e d of the sprins'for secu ng sa d lamp in adju ted position, to indicate nd mark the advance of thefootball as the game is p y d 4. A measuring device for use in a football some for indicating and. measuring the advance of the ball as the game is played comprising, a flat Ibeam having an earth piercing cleat On one end thereof, a flex ble chain. of pre etermined length secured to .the oleate end of he beam with an earth piercing stake on the free ensi uf said chain,- a longitudinally adjustable clamp slide able on said beam and provided wi h an earth piercing cleat, said clamp being movable on sa d beam to mark th advan e of the football as the game is being Played, and means associated with said clamp and frictionally engageable with said b am .for' securi g t e clamp inset position on said beam.

I lAROLlZ) LBALMER. 

